CHICAGO (FNS) -- While in Chicago for the FMI convention, check out some of the newest supermarkets as well as the new equipment and products on the floor at McCormick Place.
The latest efforts of two market leaders, Albertson's Jewel-Osco division and Safeway's Dominick's division, are worth a visit, as are a brand-new Cub Foods store and a remodeled Cub that just opened in early April.
A local independent chain, Treasure Island Foods, has stores in Chicago that feature an array of imported products. This is the chain Julia Child once described as "the most European supermarket chain" in the United States.
And quirky specialty foods retailer Trader Joe's entered the Chicago market in the past year with four stores.
For retailers and suppliers interested in non-supermarket operations, the newest addition to Chicago's downtown retail scene is the North Bridge shopping complex at 520 North Michigan Ave., at the southern end of the Magnificent Mile shopping street.
Nordstrom's anchors the North Bridge development with one of that chain's largest stores.
A number of fashion retailers are located in the glass-fronted shops lining the block-long arcade leading from the Michigan Avenue entrance to Nordstrom's. Here you'll find Dutch retailer Oilily, French cosmetics retailer Sephora with a stunning merchandising approach to cosmetics, trendy Tommy Bahama, and a large Lego store, with a food court featuring local restaurants on the fourth floor of the arcade.
Here are driving directions to some of Chicagoland's interesting supermarkets:
DOMINICK'S
3141 Thatcher Ave. at Belmont Avenue
River Grove
Directions: From downtown Chicago, take the Eisenhower Expressway (I-90) west to the First Avenue exit. Take First Avenue north to River Grove, where it becomes Thatcher Avenue; the store is at the intersection of Thatcher and Belmont.
History: This version of Dominick's Fresh Store format opened about a year ago, replacing an older store in River Grove. Special Features: This store includes a Starbucks cafe and an in-line cafe in the deli department featuring fresh pizza and chicken. The produce section includes a salad bar, and there's a scratch bakery. The store also offers a gourmet meats counter, an extensive floral department and a full-service pharmacy.
JEWEL-OSCO
1341 North Paulina St.
Chicago
Directions: From downtown, take State Street north to Division Street, then turn left on Division. Just west of the I-94 Dan Ryan Expressway overpass, turn left on Milwaukee Avenue, then turn right on North Paulina to the store.
Special Features: This newly remodeled Jewel-Osco combination store offers a prime example of the chain's "Good for You" program spotlighting natural, organic and health-oriented foods. Special signs and shelving in almost every section of the store, from pharmacy to produce, highlight foods that are low in sodium or fat, are organically produced, or offer other health benefits. Brochures available in the store explain the program to shoppers.
JEWEL-OSCO
9449 Skokie Blvd.
Skokie
Directions: From downtown, take the Dan Ryan Expressway, I-90 and I-94, north and take I-90, the Edens Expressway, north at the split. Take the Dempster exit and go east on Dempster to Skokie Boulevard. Turn left on Skokie and go north to the store, just past the intersection with Grosse Point Road.
Special Features: This newly remodeled store is in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood and showcases Jewel's recently expanded selection of kosher foods. The chain has added 200 new kosher items to its assortment, with a broad selection in dairy, frozen foods and bakery as well as dry grocery.
JEWEL-OSCO
3153 West 183rd St. at Kedzie
Homewood
Directions: This store, in the suburbs south of Chicago, is not far from the two Cub stores described below. From downtown, take I-90 south and then I-57 south. Take the 159th Street exit and go east to Kedzie Avenue. Turn right and go south on Kedzie to the store, at the intersection with 183rd Street.
Special Features: This store has one of the five new Jewel Express Fuel Centers in Chicagoland in its parking lot. This one includes a kiosk with the gasoline pumps. Other fuel centers offer a 3,000-square foot convenience center with the fuel center.
OSCO FOOD MART
4051 Lincoln Ave. at Belle Plaine
Chicago
State and Adams streets
Chicago
Directions: To reach the Lincoln Avenue store, take Lake Shore Drive north to the Irving Park Road exit. Take Irving Park west to the three-way intersection with Lincoln and Damen. Turn right on Lincoln and go two blocks to the store, at the intersection with Belle Plaine Road. It is a reasonable taxi distance.
The State and Adams store is in the Loop, on the northeast corner of that intersection, in the same block as the Palmer House Hilton.
History: Jewel-Osco has been expanding the food selection in its free-standing Osco drug stores, and these two stores have been recently remodeled.
Special Features: These two stores illustrate how Osco tailors the selection in its food mart sections to the neighborhood. The Lincoln Avenue store, in a residential neighborhood, includes an expanded assortment of perishable items, with an 8-foot produce case of basic items, 24 feet of frozen foods and 16 feet of dairy products, along with floral bouquets in buckets at the checkout area. This store is 18,000 square feet, slightly larger than the 15,500-square-foot prototype for new Oscos.
The State and Adams Osco store is one of five in Loop-area office buildings. The food mart assortment here caters to downtown office workers. There's a 4-foot case of prepared sandwiches and salads brought in daily, 4-foot cases of prepackaged salad mixes and of produce in single-serving packs, a 4-foot case of yogurts and Lunchables, a large selection of cold single beverages and single-serve packs of snacks, cookies and microwaveable soups and entrees.
CUB FOODS
4200 Lincoln Highway (U.S. Route 30)
Matteson
16000 South Harlem Ave.
Tinley Park
Directions: These two Cub stores are about five miles apart and are south of Chicago. From downtown Chicago, take Lake Shore Drive south to the Stevenson Expressway (I-55). Take the Harlem Avenue exit and go south on Harlem Avenue (Route 43) to Tinley Park; the store is at the intersection of South Harlem Avenue and 159th Street. To reach the new Matteson store, continue south on Harlem to the intersection with the Lincoln Highway (Route 30). Turn left on Route 30; the store is on Route 30, just east of Route 50.
History: These stores represent Cub's latest prototype and a return to the SuperValu chain's roots, with a warehouse look and huge displays. The Matteson store was built from the ground up and opened April 5, the same day as the Tinley Park store's completion of a major remodeling. The Matteson store brings Cub's total in the Chicago area to 26.
Special Features: The stores are about 65,000 square feet and feature extensive produce and meat departments. Both offer the latest in scanner technology and bagging service. Both have full-service pharmacies, and the Tinley Park store offers a drive-through service at the pharmacy. Deli and bakery departments feature party trays and a party planning service.
TREASURE ISLAND FOODS
2121 North Clyborn St.
Chicago
Directions: From downtown, take Lake Shore Drive north to the North Avenue exit. Go west on North Avenue to Clyborn Street and turn right on Clyborn. The store is about five blocks north on Clyborn in the Market Square shopping center. This store is an easy cab ride from downtown.
History: This store, about 15 years old, is the largest of the six Treasure Island operates. At 40,000 square feet, it's about twice the size of the chain's other units.
Special Features: The store boasts one of the largest selections of imported foods in the country, including a couple of hundred varieties of cheese. The chain is known for the quality and variety of its produce section. The meat department features both prime and choice grades, plus a fresh fish and lobster counter. There's a scratch bakery and an extensive deli department. On the store's mezzanine level, Treasure Island holds cooking classes featuring noted chefs from Chicago and elsewhere.
TRADER JOE'S
1407 Waukegan Road,
Glenview
577 Waukegan Road in Brookside Plaza, Northbrook
122 Ogden Ave.,
Downers Grove
680 Roosevelt Road at Pickwick Place, Glen Ellyn
Directions: The Glenview and Northbrook stores are in suburbs just north of Chicago; the Downers Grove and Glen Ellyn stores are west of the city. Here are directions to the Glenview store. From downtown, take the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90 and I-94) north. At the split, take I-94, the Edens Expressway, north. Take the Lake Avenue exit and go west to the intersection with Waukegan Road (Route 43). The store is at the northeast corner of that intersection. Directions to the other three stores are available at www.traderjoes.com.
History: All four stores have opened in the Chicago area in the past year.
Special Features: Trader Joe's is a specialty grocery chain featuring products primarily under its own label. The stores have extensive cheese, produce and bakery sections and offer prepared entrees. There are no fresh meat sections. The chain offers a wide variety of beers and wines and claims one of the largest selections of nuts available anywhere.
